I Can't Help It

I promise not to do this every time I shop, but I just can't help it this time. I had to fill a prescription for Kennadi at Smith's so I decided to pick up a few things while I waited. Without going into the boring details of how I did it, I just want to say that I got all the stuff in this picture--$40 worth (though I never wouldn't have paid retail) for um...NOTHING. I mean, less than NOTHING! Seriously, I got $6.17 back from the cashier and that even includes the prescription!!! The cashier was dumbfounded and laughing as she handed me my cash!

We Made Christmas!

In 17 years we've been married, I can honestly say this was the best Christmas ever! We decided to make eachothers' Christmas presents this year. Though my fabulous idea initially met with murmuring, everyone stepped up to the plate and really put their hearts into gift giving this year.

The day Kami and I spent working on her gifts was one I will never forget. Several times Kami said, "This is the best day of my life!" It was truly special to see how proud she was of her creations and how thrilled she was to make them. She made a scrapbook for me (I didn't help with this one), pillowcases with iron-on pictures for Kacey and Kennadi, and shirts with iron-on pictures for Jordan and Jason.

Kennadi started the earliest on her gifts by knitting hats (and one scarf) for everyone. She surprised herself with her newfound skill and loves to knit now.

Jordan worked hard on a craft kit for Kami, cookie-in-a-jar kit for the ever-baking Kennadi, fudge for Jason (he also gave Jason some much needed wiper blades that weren't quite as home-made), bath salts for me, and an extremely time-consuming rag quilt for Kacey. I was so proud of the effort that went into that quilt. Not only did Jordan take the time to lay out the squares in a fun pattern in Kacey's team colors, he learned how to sew!

Kacey made fuzzy flip flops for the girls and painted a "Magic is Life" painting for Jordan. She gave Jase and me a picture of herself and wrote a story. It was the story of her life to now. It was so clever and so funny. We laughed and cried and Jason read. I will take a story like that for every Christmas over any other gift from her!!!

Jason wrote down his favorite memory of each of us and put it in a picture frame along with a favorite picture.

I gave Jason a framed picture of us that my friend took (I know, I didn't actually make this, but I intended to do something cool with the framing and it didn't quite turn out as cool as I thought.) I made a necklace for Kacey, a charm bracelet for Kami, an apron for the ever-baking Kennadi, and a magician's cape for Jordan. I was actually giddy when it came my turn to distribute my gifts, knowing the time and love I'd put into them.

I remember well the years when my mom would hole herself up in her sewing room for weeks on end working on Christmas. She always worked so hard to make beautiful quilts and jammies and dresses and dolls. I finally understand that more love went into those Christmases than even time and skill.

I don't know which was the greater blessing--the time spent making gifts or the gifts made with so much love that I received. All I know is this is a Christmas I can never forget!!!

Happy Birthday Kennadi!

It's hard to believe that Kennadi turned 11! The Christmas stocking we brought her home in is still as good as new, but so much has happened since then! This is one of my favorite pictures of her that I just had to post.

Kennadi, you are such a great part of our family. You were born on the most peaceful of Sunday mornings. Peaceful wouldn't be the word I would choose to describe how it's been since, BUT I wouldn't change a thing. You have so much spunk and determination packed into that tight little muscly body of yours! You walked across the room for chocolate kisses long before you turned one, and now you flip across the room, walk on your hands, and rarely sit still. I love to watch you do gymnastics and can hardly believe a child with such skill and beautiful ability belongs to me.

You are quite possibly to most forgetful child I know and most certainly the messiest! It's a darn good thing you have such a charming way of making me forget those less than perfect qualities. Even when you were little and about to get spanked, you cleverly yelled, "Wait! I need a love!" You make me laugh almost daily with your witty remarks and your hilarious dance moves. Life would be so boring without you!

Thank you for being you and sharing you with me. I love you! Happy Birthday, Bubby!

Snow in Vegas!

We heard a "winter avisory" on the radio this morning and braced ourselves for the usual Vegas storm of cold rain. What a fun surprise when REAL snow fell! The girls talked all morning about playing in the snow as I sipped my hot chocolate and explained that the snow wouldn't "stick" because, after all, we're not in Utah anymore. Not the least bit discouraged, Kami and Kennadi dragged out the dusty winter box from the garage and proceeded to dress themselves as if they were planning a ski trip.

Here I am on my third cup of hot cocoa and, sure enough, the girls are enjoying every flake of snow that is indeed sticking. I braved the cold long enough to take a few pictures so as to share this winter miracle with you!

Little Miss Livvy

My sister, Nenn (aka Jen), had her fifth baby on November 13. My other sister and I had our tickets purchased and everything in place to be there for the blessed event...which was supposed to happen the following week! As soon as we received the call that Nenn's water broke, Kennadi, Kami and I packed up our stuff and hit the road. Sweet Livvy didn't wait for us to get there, but we hardly noticed the 5 1/2 hour car ride because we were so excited to meet her! I remember thinking for much of the car ride that a sweet little angel was at that very moment saying her "see you laters" to friends and loved ones in heaven. The photographer that took this picture is so talented! You can see more of Livvy on her blog: http://onthetreetopphoto.blogspot.com/2008/12/little-miss-livvy-12-days-newborn.html.

Girls Night Out with The Jonas Brothers

We surprised Kennadi with an early birthday present last Saturday--tickets to the Jonas Brothers concert. I underestimated the power of thousands of screaming girls and neglected to bring earplugs. Despite the three hour fest (which included two opening bands), the ringing in my ears that finally quit sometime yesterday afternoon, and the hour spent trying to escape the parking garage afterward, we had a great time! REALLY! We passed on the $35 t-shirts and $6 cotton candy because it was more fun using our binoculars (which we fortunately had the forsight to bring since they would have been another $10 to rent...) to scan the MGM Garden Arena for several of Kennadi's friends.

My favorite song was "Love Bug"--go download it!

A Good Read

As part of homeschool, we read the scriptures together every morning. It is one of Jovie's (our cocker spaniel) favorite times of the day. Like clockwork, Jovie races up to wherever Kennadi has perched and snuggles in as close as she can and settles in for a good read...

WISDOM...

...teeth. Kacey went in to have her wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. After nearly two hours of pulling, tugging, sweating and swearing the Dr. finally got ONE tooth out. Kacey was awake the entire time! The Dr. said it was the hardest one he had ever tried to get out. Needless to say, after the workout, the Dr. rescheduled for another time to get the other three out--with anesthesia.

Cheese!

My very talented and patient friend, Brittney Dye, spent hours with us last weekend in an attempt to capture the essence of our family... It only took 252 photos!!! Here are a few of my favorites:

ZOINKS!

We went to all kinds of work preparing to exceed all expectations for "Trunk-or-Treat" this year (we did, after all, take first place last year). We spent months trying to figure out the best way to make our van look like the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo, since we all planned to dress as the Scooby characters. We spent an equal amount of time gathering all the perfect costume pieces. We even made it to the activity on time! Everything was perfect...except...I forgot the camera!!! Seriously, photos are pretty much the only reason I go to all this trouble sometimes! I came across one picture of Kennadi as Velma, and this picture of Jason as Fred and Kacey as Daphne is to only one I could get from friends so far. I have several requests out for more pictures from better-prepared photographing friends, so I'll post when I have those.

It was a close call this year, but we managed to squeek out another first place!!! The pressure is on for next year, especially since the second-place winner (for the second year in a row...) knows where we live and has vowed revenge. We are already planning...

As a re-cap for those of you who missed last year's winning Trunk-or-Treat entry, we went as the "Whos" from Who-Ville.

Champions

We got a cool treat the other when when two Olympic swimmers, Brendan Hansen and Eric Shanteau, visited Desert Breeze (the pool where Kacey and Kami train). They spent an hour telling motivational and funny stories like the time Brendan swam his first IM and accidentally flip-turned into another kid's lane without realizing it. He came out of his turn and noticed a swimmer in front of him, so he swam up to the kid and pushed him out of the way. When he finished the race, his dad said, "You're the only kid I know that could turn swimming into a full-contact sport!"

For those of you who watched the Summer Olympics this year, you may remember that Eric was diagnosed with cancer one week before the Olympic trials. Despite the diagnosis, he went on to make the Olympic team. He had surgery a month ago and is doing very well.

Both guys are down to earth, funny, and inspirational. What a great experience!

Shopper's High

I am not a shopaholic. Here me out. Seriously, I do love to shop, but what I really love is the high that can only come from getting the most amazing deal ever. So last week I came across this really cool website that posts all the things on sale at my local grocery stores. The site rates the sales (* to *****). The site also tells me if there are any coupons to add to the good deals. The coolest part is the site is FREE.

Long story short, I packed up the girls early Thursday morning for the coolest field trip (you get to do things like then when you homeschool!) The girls helped me find the items on our list. Every time we found an item, we compared the regular price with the sales price then with the price after using coupons (we didn't have coupons for every item.) They quickly figured out what a difference "smart shopping" makes.

At the checkout, the cashier was more amazed at our savings than even we were! The value of our stuff came to $130+. We spent $40. We saved $90+. That means we saved more than twice what we spent! It was so fun that we had to take pictures when we got home.

I know, I probably need to get out more.

She Didn't Get it From Me

So this is my first attempt at blogging...

It got a little challenging to call everyone I know last weekend to brag about Kacey. A little voice in the back of my head kept saying, "If you'd just start blogging, you wouldn't have to call everyone..." Or, maybe that was one of my blog-happy sisters talking?

Anyway...

I'll just say it. She didn't get it from me. I mean, I always thought of myself as a go-getter. A goal-setter. One to try new things. Looking back, I guess that really only applied when it was something totally fun or cool. Not something super-duper challenging. Maybe it skipped a generation. After all, my own senior citizen dad (that's right, Dad, you may not look or act like it but you do qualify for special discounts now) is a seasoned marathoner. Wherever she got it from, I'm proud to say that Kacey competed in her first triatholon at Lake Mead in Las Vegas last weekend! That's right, she swam 800 yards, biked 14 miles uphill, and ran 5K--one right after another--for fun.

It's amazing, really. I can't tell you what I had for breakfast, what I wore yesterday, or even if I managed to squeeze in a shower today, but I can give you blow-by-blow details of the entire race. I'll just trim it down to the good stuff for you: she placed 2nd in her division, 47th for women, and 164th overall. That's among about 500 competitors in the sprint distance category! YEAH KACEY!